The memorandum will strengthen interactions between Los Alamos and the college by providing additional opportunities for research, education, recruitment and retention.
"This is another example of successful partnering with New Mexico's universities," said Los Alamos National Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos. "This partnership will allow New Mexico Tech to participate, along with the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Highlands University in the outstanding science for which Los Alamos is known, and this allows the Laboratory to potentially recruit more of its future scientists locally. This is a win-win for the whole state."
"This MOU provides excellent opportunities for faculty, researchers and students at New Mexico Tech, and scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory to fully develop collaborative efforts in areas of mutually beneficial research and education," said New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology President Daniel H. L�pez. "The new academic and research interactions created by this initiative will help New Mexico attract and retain top-notch faculty and students, while at the same time introducing them to the varied programs and careers available at Los Alamos," he added.
Under terms of the MOU, three collaborations between Los Alamos and New Mexico Tech will be the initial focus: a student and postdoctoral scholars program; a university faculty and Laboratory staff program; and a collaborative research program. Strategic partnerships will be further established and directed under the management of a newly formed Los Alamos-New Mexico Tech Joint Science and Technology Laboratory.
In addition, Los Alamos and New Mexico Tech have identified five research areas of strategic importance to both institutions that will be supported under the MOU as available funds permit, including the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, astronomy and astrophysics, earth sciences, materials engineering and energetic materials.
The Laboratory previously signed memoranda of understanding with UNM, NMSU and New Mexico Highlands University that focus on collaborative research projects in bioscience, materials science, computer science, modeling and simulation and security-related sciences, computational engineering, such as predictive sciences, decision making and engineering design.
The MOUs are intended to be beneficial to the Laboratory and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Researchers at New Mexico Tech will be allowed to use the Laboratory's facilities, resources, and intellectual capabilities, while Los Alamos scientists and engineers will be encouraged to actively participate in New Mexico Tech academic and research programs as part of their work with the national lab.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Washington Group International for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.